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REGION: Holes in Horn's story raise doubts
Supervisor says meeting with developer was legal, appropriate
By DARRYN BENNETT - Staff Writer | ∞
New details about a meeting between county Supervisor Bill Horn and the chief executive of a wireless company with a controversial cell-tower project before the county government have cast doubt on the supervisor's credibility and raised questions about the legality of the meeting.
Various sources have contradicted Horn's account of the meeting, as described in an e-mail his spokesman sent to the newspaper last week and on his Fifth District Web site.
The supervisor has not been accused of breaking any laws, but his critics have said the meeting smacks of impropriety and may violate county guidelines.
In August, Horn met with Doug Hutcheson, president of Leap Wireless, the parent company of Cricket Communications, which in 2006 asked for permission from the county to build a hotly contested, 50-foot-tall cell phone tower in the historical Park Hill Lane neighborhood just outside the southeastern border of Escondido. All told, Cricket's lobbyist said last week, the company has roughly 20 applications to build cell towers in the unincorporated county. Potentially, any application could come before the Board of Supervisors.
Horn's official spokesman, John Culea, described the meeting as a casual "meet-and-greet," and said the cell tower project wasn't mentioned. However, the meeting was attended by Horn's land-use policy adviser, Dustin Steiner, and registered Cricket lobbyist Craig Benedetto.
Horn, who is scheduled to vote on the project in June, refused to be interviewed for this story.
But last week, the supervisor defended his meeting and criticized the North County Times in an e-mail to constituents and in a new feature on the county's Web site called "The Whole Story." Among other things, Horn said all four of his fellow supervisors had also met with Hutcheson.
However, county supervisors Ron Roberts, Greg Cox, Dianne Jacob and Pam Slater-Price all said through their top aides this week that they had not met with either Hutcheson or Benedetto.
What's more, aides for supervisors Jacob and Slater-Price asked Horn's staff Monday to correct or strike the faulty information from Horn's Web site.
As of late Thursday, the site still included Horn's assertion that the other four supervisors had all met with the developer and the lobbyist.
Horn has long been dogged by a reputation for being more accessible to developers and executives than to the residents he represents.
He has tried to deflect such criticism, saying he was too busy to meet with everyone in his district, which encompasses much of North County, and that his staff is available to meet with constituents.
Even so, Horn's decision to include a Cricket lobbyist and a county land use planner in his meeting is troubling, said Bob Stern, president of the nonprofit watchdog group Center for Governmental Studies and former general counsel for the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
Stern deemed far-fetched Horn's insistence that the cell phone tower never came up in the supervisor's discussion with Hutcheson and Benedetto.
"Obviously, (the meeting) was more than an introduction," he said Wednesday. "Otherwise, you're wasting everybody's time" by including both Horn's land use adviser and Hutcheson's lobbyist.
According to the county's Administrative Code, supervisors are prohibited from discussing a project with the developer or anyone else if it requires a hearing by the Board of Supervisors.
Cricket's cell tower project was approved by the county Planning Commission in December, but Park Hill Lane residents paid the $500 fee to appeal the approval to the Board of Supervisors. Horn's meeting with Cricket officials took place before the appeal had been filed.
The county's meeting rules are vague and open to a certain amount of interpretation, according to county legal officials.
They said, however, that because Planning Commission decisions can be appealed, they have recommended that supervisors refrain from meeting with any applicants whether their projects are coming before the board or not, to avoid rumors of back-room deals.
Stern said he would give elected officials the same advice.
Even if the cell tower didn't come up in conversation, Horn's decision to meet with Cricket executives "showed blatant disregard for the spirit of the law, at least," he said.
Horn's office has vehemently denied that the supervisor's meeting with Cricket officials was inappropriate or illegal. But the question could hinge on what qualifies as a "meet-and-greet" ---- an insiders' term for a brief introductory meeting with a supervisor devoid of any discussion of specific projects.
Supervisors routinely list casual introductory visits as meet-and-greets on their calendars as a way to distinguish them from meetings for official business.
Developers and executives seeking to build projects in the county are usually granted the brief, introductory meetings with an aide instead of an elected supervisor to avoid even the appearance of corruption, said several county officials.
Supervisor Jacob said that's precisely why she avoids such meetings.
"I do not meet or discuss with parties ---- for or against ---- a land-use project to be decided by the board once any application is on file with the county," the East County supervisor said Wednesday.
Also in question is how long the developer met with Horn.
According to Horn's e-mail and Web site, his meeting with Cricket representatives was a "standard meet-and-greet" appointment that lasted about 10 minutes.
"That is why the calendar states 'meet and greet,'" wrote Culea, Horn's spokesman, in an e-mail to the North County Times and to constituents on his "Whole Truth" Web page.
But a review of Horn's daily calendars lists the meeting with Cricket officials as a standard meeting scheduled for 60 minutes. Other appointments in the calendars were designated as "meet-and-greet."
The discrepancy suggests to Stern and others that his meeting with Cricket could have included discussions about the cell phone project.
Cricket's lobbyist, Benedetto, said Wednesday that he didn't remember what was discussed during his meeting with Horn, except to say that the Park Hill Lane project didn't come up. However, he appeared to confirm Horn's calendar entry that recorded a lengthier meeting.
Asked how long the meeting was, Benedetto said, "I don't know. Brief. Maybe 30 minutes."
"We didn't do anything wrong," he said. "We're not trying to get any undue influence."
Contact staff writer Darryn Bennett at (760) 740-5420 or dmbennett@nctimes.com.
Swiss Cheese?
Holes abound in County Supervisor Bill Horn's account of his meeting with the chief executive of Cricket Communications, who wants to build a controversial cell tower near Escondido.
Horn says: It was a casual "meet and greet," with no official business discussed.
However: The meeting included Horn's land-use aide and Cricket's lobbyist.
Horn says: Cricket met with the county's other four supervisors, too.
However: All four supes deny it. Dianne Jacob says she would never attend such a meeting with Cricket, which has 20 projects before the county.
Horn says: The meeting lasted just 10 minutes.
However: Horn's own calendar shows 60 minutes was alloted for the meeting; the Cricket lobbyist said it lasted around 30 minutes.
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Lisa wrote on May 8, 2008 7:25 PM:Just like I said the other day...Bill Horn should have called his website video "The Hole Story". I do believe he has been caught with his hand in the "cell tower jar". Oops.
Jill wrote on May 8, 2008 8:02 PM:I think Bill Horn needs to retire. He is no longer looking out for the people. The same goes for the Oceanside Mayor Wood. All of his shenanigans are coming out too. He looked nasty at last night's meeting, calling other council members Ludicrous.
Investigation needed wrote on May 8, 2008 8:49 PM:A criminal investigation needs to be opened into all of Bill Horn's activities. Horn has been clearly caught in a lie in this situation. The entire truth needs to come out.
Horn should be compelled to give an interview, under oath. If we had a District Attorney in San Diego, it would have already begun.
Not likely wrote on May 8, 2008 9:15 PM:Don't count on an investigation. Bonnie Dumanis is too busy making up excuses for off-duty police officers who go around randomly shooting people.
Oh Please wrote on May 8, 2008 10:13 PM:Raises Doubts? You've got to be kidding.
Horn lied and said this was a 10 minute meeting.
He lied and said this was a "meet and greet."
Horn said no specifics were discussed, yet he took a land use aide and met with the company's executive and a lobbyist. Another lie.
He said the other four supervisors all met with the same people. Another lie.
Horn has lied about this from start to finish. There is no doubt about what happened, and no doubt that Horn must resign.
David J wrote on May 8, 2008 10:46 PM:While there should be a criminal investigation into this matter, Horn must immediately recuse himself from any vote on this matter. The impropriety of this is too significant to overlook.
Nick wrote on May 8, 2008 11:00 PM:How can anyone say Horn isn't accessible? He talked to me one day while he had his car washed ( snicker )
To Jill wrote on May 9, 2008 6:00 AM:"no longer" looking out for his constituents? That suggests there was a time he did.
Neighbor wrote on May 9, 2008 6:29 AM:so... Horn is caught lying again. Nothing new. A majority of us voters are idiots and will vote him in for another term.
Public Trust wrote on May 9, 2008 6:54 AM:If one of his aides reads this, please remind him that his office is a public trust. Part of the job is putting up with a little foolishness, as we all know one does when one works with the public. In the process, you actually deal with a "little guys" who warrant what the job is all about anyway.
Well wrote on May 9, 2008 6:59 AM:Send Horn out to pasture with his good friend Randy Cunningham
Poor Little Bill wrote on May 9, 2008 7:34 AM:And he still gets reelected time after time. Dipping his pen in the company inkwell, private meetings with developers, almost impossible for constituents to meet with, etc. etc. The list goes on, but people still vote for him. Amazing.
More substance wrote on May 9, 2008 7:55 AM:Horn may be skirting the rules here, but this is a puny test case. Why is the NCT putting so much energy into an argument about a cell tower?
At least find a stream or a field with endangered critters that one of his developer buddies wants to pave over. Or follow the money that the supes hand out to community groups.
Yes, the NCT has to defend its own after Horn's office attacked Ms. Bennett's credibility, but please, find something more substantial.
bogie wrote on May 9, 2008 8:29 AM:Trend on NTC blogs;
Republicans are guilty until proven innocent
Democrats are innocent until proven guilty
witch hunt underway wrote on May 9, 2008 8:40 AM:When a newspaper hunts back almost a YEAR to try and find something they think they can twist and work in an effort to discredit someone, in this case Supervisor Horn, there is something fishy alright.
What's fishy is the North County Times' motive. How stupid do you think people are? It's public record that you endorsed his opponent in the last election. Who is paying the NCT to continue the witch hunt? If I were Bill Horn, I'd sue you.
Are you afraid to post MY comment? Or, do you just choose to post those that agree with your campaign?
American wrote on May 9, 2008 9:42 AM:Ever since Horn decided to jump on the "eminent domain useful to steal private property" bandwagon, I have felt he's an enemy of the people he is paid to represent. It's too bad most people are so easily corrupted.
Neighbor wrote on May 9, 2008 10:29 AM:Not only has Horn jumped on the "eminent domain useful to steal private property" bandwagon, Horn, as a Board Member of NCTD voted to steal land from property owners in San Marcos for the Sprinter. Horn was happy to try to steal $1.2 million worth of property from 27 residents by offering only $28,000. Horn is arrogant and disrespectful.
good reporting wrote on May 9, 2008 10:35 AM: Nothing ever sticks including all the shenanigans he and his chief of staff get into. However, could the nct reporter be onto something new? Good reporting so far.
Concerned wrote on May 9, 2008 11:32 AM:I am concerned over the NTC's motives to write this piece. It is my understanding that what you are talking about was a meet and greet ONLY. Furthermore, as your ARTICLE states, no votes were at stake when the MEET and GREET took place and was only meant for introductory purposes. The Supervisor did nothing wrong. The NTC is only attacking Horn because (1) he's conservative and the NCT is not, (2) he's been in office for 13 years, which is bad business for sensationalized newpsapers, and finally (3) you seem to make every effort to show your distain for Bill with the same fervor you showed your support of his oppent last election (journalism 101: stay neutral)
But Ignores Hospital wrote on May 9, 2008 2:31 PM:NCTimes ignores the holes in the hospital's story, yet it spends a disporportionate time on a lone cell phone tower. So why is PPH changing General Contractors on the new hospital?
Patrick wrote on May 9, 2008 3:17 PM:Why is San Diego one of the few counties in the whole of California that does NOT impose term limits on County Supervisors like Horn?? Horn has had his hand caught in the cookie jar repeatedly and no one seems to care, especially the voters!
We need term limits so this sort of deceitful activity cannot continue!
old staffer wrote on May 9, 2008 5:17 PM:Stop your crying..."Meet and Greet" is just that! You have a short meeting to introduce yourself and you are shown the door. I have known Horn for years and he has never promised anyone a vote! He is a good Sup and he has a great staff.
Now what you do is schedule a meeting with his staff and discusses the project….! This is the best way to update his office of your concerns… Mr. Benedetto is a lobbyist and he should have known better to lie about an elected officials. Horn and his staff are stand-up people!
Bill, keep up the good work!
Umm.. wrote on May 9, 2008 6:25 PM:I so want to believe that a politician would never promise anyone a vote.
Horn Defenders wrote on May 9, 2008 8:44 PM:The few Horn defenders in these comments have adopted his "I'm the victim" attitude. Horn breaks laws and then blames those who blow the whistle on him (NCT, TV news, opponents,etc.). And party politics has NOTHING to do with it- I believe all the other supes are Republicans and NCT isn't finding illegalities and lies abounding in their records. Horn needs to own up to his dishonesty and incompetence for once in his life. Any old staffers and current old staffers who write these lies for him or in defense of his lies are just as guilty.
To Old Staffer wrote on May 9, 2008 8:51 PM:You must be old. Didn't you read the article? It wasn't a "meet and greet" on the calendar. It only became a "meet and greet' after he got caught. "Horn and his staff are stand-up people" all right. They'll stand up for any developer with a check in his hand.
Horndog wrote on May 9, 2008 10:13 PM:Horn has got to go!
At it again wrote on May 9, 2008 10:17 PM:Why doesn't the NC Times have a basic IP check to prevent the same person from posting comments under different names? Bet anything that "Old Staffer" and "Concerned" are the same person. I find it hard to believe that there are two honest people in North County who would actually defend this bum.
seether wrote on May 10, 2008 12:03 AM:I would like to understand why a cell phone tower has become a top story in the NC Times. You should be more concerned with potential wildfires and preservation of land. Thank you Supervisors Bill Horn and Ron Roberts for the recommendation of the superscooper. Our children and homes should be our most valuable concerns. Conservative does not mean environmentally irresponsible.
John wrote on May 10, 2008 12:12 AM:Horn and his staff are stand-up people??? The only stand-up people I know are comedians.
Livn large on the lane wrote on May 10, 2008 3:59 AM:It looks like old Bill finally stomped on the toes of the wrong group of constituents. Better watch where you walk, Bill.
Ken wrote on May 10, 2008 4:15 AM:when's the next election??? Vote me in!!
If It Walks Like A Duck wrote on May 10, 2008 6:45 AM:Horno just can't help himself. He so badly wants all the lavish perks of being an elected official, but unfortunately it's just a County gig so he can't get all the riches like his buddy Duke (can you say 15 to 20) Cunningham. And may be this is why when the folks up on the Guejito wouldn't invite him back for brunch, he turned from private land owner advocate into....Eminent Domain Man!! Either way, Billo is just another run-of-the-mill Bureau-crook
Amal wrote on May 10, 2008 6:54 AM:intersting story
Refused to be interviewed wrote on May 10, 2008 7:00 AM:This guy acts like he is above the law. He "refuses" to be interviewed?
Only if we are stupid enough will we allow this guy another term. Time to bring out the shovel and get rid ...
Smoke Screen wrote on May 10, 2008 1:11 PM:Those of us on the email distribution for Bill Horn and his publicist/apologist, John Culea, have been deluged by their attempts to run from this story. Having direct experience with Bill Horn's self righteous attitude toward "representation" it's clear that Darryn has struck a nerve and we'd have to be stupid (as Horn treats us) to believe that he would grant a private meeting to merely exchange pleasantries. It's a travesty Horn remains in office.
GIF wrote on May 10, 2008 4:10 PM:To those who are asking why the NCT keeps putting so much into this cell tower story: It is obvious that this story and a few others have brought the attention to Bill Horn's dealings. Darryn has put good effort into this story to get to the truth, and the truth is coming out. Why do you have a problem with that? Are we suppose to sit here and take it.....NO!
horny wrote on May 11, 2008 9:06 AM: he is a crook, thats just my opinion
old staffer wrote on May 11, 2008 8:35 PM:You don’t know Horn, so back to you backyard bunkers with your foil on your heads and keep your eyes open for those black hawk helicopters’ that fly in whisper mode over Area 51.
Its sad wrote on May 13, 2008 9:17 AM:Disappointed in a good man of John Culea
who apparently so needs a job will front for anyone. C'mon John do the right thing here. You had a great reputation -now tainted.
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